Shōgun

The typical samurai armor was an essential part of the samurai's image. &nbsp;Since their emergence in the Heian period (794-1185), samurai have been distinguished by their armor. &nbsp;Over time, samurai armor evolved according to the type of weapons used and the fighting style.In the beginning, the samurai wore armor called ōyoroi, which means "large armor." &nbsp;Then, the samurai fought on horseback with bows and arrows, and the main purpose of the armor was to protect the owner from the enemy's arrows. &nbsp;The armor consisted of three main parts: a helmet (kabuto), a cuirass (dō), and a shoulder guard (sode). &nbsp;It was a very luxurious piece of armor made of small lacquered iron plates (kozane) that were laced together. &nbsp;The lacquer prevented the metal from rusting. &nbsp;Because of its luxury, the ōyoroi was quite heavy, weighing up to 30 kilograms. &nbsp;However, since it was mainly used on horseback, the weight was not an obstacle for the warriors.

The distinctive feature of the ōyoroi armor was a large protective skirt (kusazuri) attached to the lower part of the cuirass, which protected the waist and thighs from arrows. &nbsp;It was usually made of the same material as the cuirass, kozane laced together. &nbsp;The kusazuri was divided into four to eight pieces to allow the samurai to move his legs easily.Similarly, to protect the shoulders from arrows, ōyoroi armor had two large rectangular protectors on the sides called ōsode (meaning large sleeve). &nbsp;The ōsode was attached with cords to the shoulder part of the torso to protect the shoulder up to the upper arm from arrows. &nbsp;This part was also made of iron plates laced together. &nbsp;These "sleeves" hung loosely from the shoulders and were very versatile in that they did not hinder the movement of the arms. &nbsp;They could also be used as a shield to ward off enemy blades and arrows.Later, in the early Sengoku period, close combat on foot with spears became the norm. &nbsp;This caused the heavy ōyoroi to disappear, giving way to lighter structures, although the ōyoroi continued to be used by warlords on rare formal occasions, as it remained the most prestigious and formal type of armor.&nbsp;In the late Sengoku period, samurai armor underwent another major change due to changes in warfare. &nbsp;With the introduction of firearms by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century, it became necessary for armor to protect against lead bullets. &nbsp;Influenced by Western armor, the samurai introduced large iron plates into the cuirass, replacing the small kozane plates previously used. &nbsp;Some of the surviving cuirasses show dents. &nbsp;These are the marks where bullets were fired into the cuirass before it was worn to test its strength.The armor developed in the late Sengoku period was called tōsei gusoku, meaning "modern armor." &nbsp;This name was used because the armor had changed so drastically from the ōyoroi of previous ages. However, it still retained many characteristics of its predecessor.

Use AR to see the Armor of Lord Yoshii Toranaga in your space.Toranaga’s armor is befitting of the renowned warlord; its grandeur is meant to impress and humble. As an advocate for peace, Toranaga only dons his armor when absolutely necessary, but a lifetime of war has taught him that bloodshed could always be on the horizon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Toranaga's Armor

Japanese armor in the late Sengoku period was a combination of many iron or leather pieces and plates connected by cords (odoshi) of braided silk or leather. It was designed to have as few gaps as possible so that the vital points of the body could not be targeted. At the same time, the tōsei gusoku was made as light as possible so that the wearer could move easily. The tōsei gusoku weighed about 15 kilograms, which was much lighter than the original ōyoroi and allowed the samurai to be more agile in their movements.In the Sengoku period, the helmet was often decorated with ornaments called tatemono. The warlords, in particular, displayed their military prowess with the most extravagant designs. These tatemono were also used as a means of expressing the warlord's thoughts and beliefs. In this way, the armor became very individualistic, representing the identity of each samurai.There was a reason why the armor became more and more flashy. The samurai spirit was centered on great deeds on the battlefield. After the battle, an inspector (ikusa bugyō) would record all the individual achievements of the samurai. Being the first to kill an enemy or the first to enter an enemy's castle was highly regarded. But the most important criterion for evaluation was how many enemy heads a samurai could cut off in battle. Especially the heads of warlords or high-ranking samurai were highly valued. Since it was difficult to carry all the decapitated enemy heads in the heat of battle, part of the evaluation was based on eyewitness accounts. A highly recognizable armor contributed to the accuracy of these accounts. Flags attached to the back of the armor also helped to identify the samurai of the various clans.On the battlefield, friend and foe could easily identify each other by their armor, even if they had never seen each other's faces. Strong warriors would instill fear in their enemies just by the appearance of their armor. On the other hand, an ally's morale would be boosted when they caught a glimpse of his armor.However, flashy armor could also become a liability. This was the experience of Tokugawa Ieyasu (Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun) after he lost the Battle of Mikatagahara to Takeda Shingen. Since Ieyasu was easily recognizable in his red armor, he couldn't get rid of the Takeda forces, who hunted him ferociously. One of his loyal vassals, Natsume Yoshinobu, came to his aid. It is said that they changed their helmets to lure the enemy to Yoshinobu. While the Takeda forces flocked around Yoshinobu and killed him, Ieyasu managed to escape to Hamamatsu Castle.

Use AR to see the Taikō's Armor in your space.The Taikō’s impressive armor is emblematic of the leader’s bold strength. His helmet, visible across the battlefield, served as a warning to anyone who dared cross him. The Taikō was a warlord who wanted to be seen; each victory was a step on his momentous climb to power. After conquering the country, his armor sat behind him in the Osaka Castle ceremonial meeting hall, a constant reminder of his military prowess. &nbsp;

Taikō's Armor

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3D model of Samurai Armor from FX's Shōgun

Toranaga's armor on display in a darkened room for FX's Shogun

Samurai Armor from FX's Shōgun

Check out Samurai Armor from FX's Shōgun

FX Shōgun Samurai Armor | Viewers Guide